Many local residents will have heard about the proposed closure of St Peters Hospital. I am not prepared to stand by and allow essential local health services for my constituents just disappear.
I helped campaign against the closure of the St Peter’s maternity unit many years ago and have been pressing for a new community hospital in Maldon for over 20 years. Yet , despite public meetings, debates and assurances being given, progress in finding a replacement has been consistently thwarted by pressure on funding, the difficulty in finding a suitable site, or gaining the necessary permissions. Since the announcement was first made, I have had meetings with local NHS chiefs and arranged a public meeting here local residents can come and make their concerns known.
The meeting, to be held in conjunction with the Mayor, Cllr Andrew Lay, and Maldon Town Council, will be held at 7.00pm on Friday 9th February in the Stage Hall at the Plume Academy in Maldon. I will be at the meeting which will also be attended by Tracy Dowling, Chief Executive of the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board and other NHS Representatives. I am grateful to the Mayor for agreeing to chair the meeting. I would encourage all those with an interest in the future of healthcare in the District to attend and also to respond to the public consultation.
Last year, I was asked by the Prime Minister to return to government as a Minister for a short time, to help the Government take through several important bills whilst a colleague was on maternity leave. This is a role that I have done before, so it was a return to a familiar role, and I was able to take the legislation through the House of Commons as well as working to promote Media, Tourism and the Creative Industries issues in Government and outside.
Julia Lopez -the Minister I covered for – said: I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Sir John Whittingdale) for supporting my maternity leave. The chance to raise a tiny child is fleeting and precious, and his superb stewardship of my portfolio granted me that gift.
The Secretary of State, Lucy Fraser, said:
Thank you @JWhittingdale for your work at @DCMS – you have achieved a lot in just a few months:
Taken Media Bill to Report Stage ✅
Championed media freedom with SLAPPs action plan ✅
Launched action plan on online advertising ✅
Promoted UK CIs & Tourism both at home & overseas ✅
Whilst I always enjoy my time serving in the Government, I look forward now that this is over to spending all my time on constituency issues once more.
I recently presented Darcey Strutt with a certificate signed by the Prime Minister to mark her Points of Light Award.
For those who don’t know Points of Light are outstanding individual volunteers, those hugely impressive people who are making a change in their community, and Darcey is no exception.
Darcey lives in Burnham on Crouch in Sir John’s constituency and is only 10 years old. She has been given her Points of Light Award for the brilliant work she does collecting presents for children each Christmas which she gives to a range of Children’s charities.
Every week day the Prime Minister recognises an inspirational volunteer with the daily Points of Light award, and this week it was Darcey’s turn.
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote to Darcey saying:
“It is amazing that you have run your appeal every year since you were just four years old! You have collected and donated hundreds of gifts, supporting brilliant charities like the Salvation Army and the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. Your kindness towards others shows the true spirit of Christmas.”
I warmly congratulate Darcey on her reward which is hugely deserved recognition of her fantastic efforts to raise money for children’s charities. I was delighted to be able to present her with her certificate in Burnham and hope that this helped make a fantastic Christmas for her and her family.
Sir John is pictured with Darcey and her mother, Mrs Jade Strutt.
According to recent independent data analysis, Sir John Whittingdale has been ranked the top backbench contributor in the House of Commons during 2023.
The independent data mobile app ScrutinyCounts has reported that out of the 14 million words spoken in the House of Commons during the whole of 2023, Sir John has contributed the most out of all MPs from both sides of the House.
It has been calculated that Sir John has spoken over 140,000 words across 76 parliamentary sessions throughout last year. He recently made substantial contributions in December alone during debates on UK Data Infrastructure, Broadband in Rural communities, Copper Wire Telecoms, SLAPPS Taskforce Work Pla›n and the various sittings of the new Media Bill recently brought to the House.
ScrutinyCounts is a mobile app that gives politically independent analysis and aims to improve political access for the general public, without spin or bias as it acknowledges both sides of the debate.
Their analysis allows Sir John’s constituents to see his activity in the chamber and for him to see which areas he has been most active on in the chamber throughout the year.
I strongly encourage my constituents who are permanent residents in Park Homes to apply for the Charis Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Many of my constituents in Maldon and the surrounding towns and villages live in park homes as permanent residents. Therefore, many do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with a supplier. This means that they had previously not qualified for the automatic monthly payments from the Energy Price Guarantee Scheme.
An additional £1.75 million of funding has recently been secured for the scheme. The additional funding means that there are a greater number of £150 payments that can be issued. It also means that successful applicants will automatically receive a ‘Heat the Home Bundle’.
The new ’Heat the Home’ package includes simple to install radiator reflector foil, insulation film and draught excluders for improved warmth retention. Appliances are available for those who ticked the appliance box on their original application. Unfortunately, homeowners cannot make a retrospective application for an appliance.
All of my constituents who have already been awarded the £150 Warm Home Discount will automatically receive the ‘Heat the Home Bundle’. I encourage Park home residents who have not yet made an application to check their eligibility and take advantage of these extra benefits.
It’s important to emphasise that eligibility benefits are applied to applications. In order to successfully apply for the £150 payment and the new bundle, applicants need to be living in a park home, and either receive government support or benefits, or have a household income below £18,723.
Park Home residents in Maldon who are yet to apply can do so through Charis’ dedicated Park Homes Warm Home Discount application page. Constituents can find the page by clicking the following link:
https://charisgrants.com/partners/park-homes/.
I visited Heathcote Preparatory School and Nursery in Danbury to meet pupils, staff and parents. I discussed the progress of the school with its Headteacher, Mrs Samantha Scott and other teachers before meeting members of the School Council and answering their questions and was then given a tour of the school by the Headboy, Noah, and Headgirl, Scarlet, before attending an Assembly and meeting parents afterwards.
It is a fantastic achievement that Heathcote was named Junior School of the Year in the Independent School Awards 2021/2022 and is continuing to grow giving parents more choice. I hugely enjoyed meeting some of the pupils and telling them about my work as well as hearing their views. I was also hugely impressed by the enthusiasm for learning which they showed and the happy atmosphere throughout the school.
Sir John is pictured answering the questions from members of the School Council.
It has been announced that, as part of the Government’s Get Active Strategy, Bradwell Bay United Youth FC based in Bradwell Village Hall in Maldon, will receive £3,950 of funding for new Goalposts and Storage facilities. This comes as part of an investment package for over £320 million to level up grassroots sports facilities across the UK.
It’s vital that everyone, regardless of their background or location, has access to world class sports facilities. As a former Sectary of State for Culture, Media and Sport I think it’s hugely important that we support, sustain and grow community and grassroots sport in Maldon like Bradwell Bay United Youth FC with this historic level of investment.
I was delighted to present a certificate marking the Reaccreditation of their British Council International School Award to Headteacher, Mrs Geraldine Denham-Hale and International Co-ordinator, Samantha Battson of St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Burnham on Crouch, at a ceremony in Parliament.
The International School Award rewards schools that have shown a commitment to embedding international awareness and understanding within their class or school. It provides a framework for schools to develop international activities across the curriculum, including collaborative work with international partner schools and opportunities to involve the wider community.
I am delighted that St Mary’s CofE Primary has been reaccredited under the British Council’s scheme. They have developed links with a school in the Czech Republic as well as another in Italy and I have no doubt that the pupils at all the schools benefit hugely from exchanging information and learning about different cultures from their counterparts in each country.
Sir John is pictured with Mrs Denham-Hale and Ms Battson on the terrace of the House of Commons following the ceremony.
What is the International School award? | British Counci
